Michigan State University
Ferris State
Spartan Hockey Knocks Off CCHA Leader Ferris State, 6-2
12/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Dec. 6, 2002
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The Spartan offense broke through on Friday night (Dec. 6) as Michigan State (7-6-1 overall, 4-4 CCHA) knocked off CCHA leader Ferris State, 6-2 in Big Rapids. The Spartans scored four second-period goals en route to their seventh victory of the season.
"I thought we played well," said MSU head coach Rick Comley. "The first period was really up and down. There were no penalties until late in the hockey game. The referee did a good job.
"We had a lot of good quality chances tonight. The goal at the end of the first period was a big goal for us. It got everyone going. I thought we played a very good road game and it was a very good win for our young team."
Freshman forward Colton Fretter (Harrow, Ont.) broke a scoreless deadlock with his first collegiate goal with just 10.1 seconds left in the first period. Fretter was left alone in front of the net and took a centering feed from sophomore forward Brock Radunske (New Hamburg, Ont.) and buried the puck over the Bulldog goaltender.
 Freshman forward Colton Fretter tallied a career-best two goals at Ferris State.  | |
Fretter scored his second goal of the season at the 1:53 mark of the second period. MSU kept traffic in front of the FSU goalie, as senior forward Brian Maloney (Bassano, Alta.) had the initial shot on goal that Brown kicked out to the point. Junior defenseman Joe Markusen (Park River, N.D.) fed the puck down low and Fretter trickled the puck through the goalie's legs.
"It was a load of my back (to get his first two goals of the season)," said Fretter. "We had a lot of traffic in front of the net, and my teammates did a good job in getting me the puck."
Sophomore forward Kevin Estrada (Surrey, B.C.) also scored his first goal of the campaign at the 5:17 mark of the second period to give MSU a 3-0 lead. The Spartans controlled the play in the offensive zone as sophomore defenseman Duncan Keith (Penticton, B.C.) fed a pass to Estrada, who put the puck into the net.
"It's been a long time coming," said Estrada about his first goal. "I've been working really hard in practice and finally got a bounce."
Senior defenseman Brad Fast (Fort St. John, B.C.) also got into the act, registering his team-leading seventh goal of the season at the 10:25 mark of the second period. Fast blasted a shot from the blueline that went off a Ferris State player and into the net.
The Bulldogs cut the Spartan lead to 4-1 on Mike Kinnie's eighth goal of the season. Matt Migliaccio (Wyandotte, Mich.) made the initial save, but Kinnie was able to just push the puck past Migliaccio.
Sophomore forward Mike Lalonde (Chetwynd, B.C.) added his third goal of the year from sophomore forward Jim Slater (Lapeer, Mich.). Slater carried the puck into the zone and drew the FSU goalie to him. Slater slid the puck to Lalonde, who buried it into the open net and give the Spartans a 5-1 lead.
Freshman forward David Booth (Washington, Mich.) gave MSU a 6-1 lead with his sixth goal of the season at the 6:35 mark of the third period. Booth took a long-ice feed from Lalonde and skated into FSU zone. Brown made the initial save on goal, but gave up the rebound and Booth buried the puck into the net.
The Bulldogs (11-4 overall, 9-2 CCHA) made it 6-2 on a power play goal by Jeff Legue.
Sophomore netminder Matt Migliaccio (Wyandotte, Mich.) earned the win in net, stopping 36-of-38 shots. FSU's Mike Brown finished with 38 stops.
The Spartans return Munn Arena tomorrow (Dec. 7), for a 7:05 p.m., face-off with Ferris State.
Spartan Notebook
* MSU scored four goals in the second period. It marked the second straight Friday that the Spartans have registered four markers in a period.
* Five different Spartans scored goals tonight, including Colton Fretter and Kevin Estrada. Fretter and Estrada each scored their first markers of the season. Brad Fast registered his first goal in eight contests tonight.
* All told, 11 different players registered at least one point in the 6-2 win over FSU.
* Prior to the game, former Spartan All-American goaltender and MSU radio analyst Joe Blackburn beat Spartan Sports Zone host Dave Ellis, 7-3 in air hockey. The air hockey rink is located in the lobby of Ewigleben Arena.
